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01/09/2024 03:24 PMA Town Meeting has been set for Jan. 16 to “discuss and take possible action” on whether Guilford will purchase a sizeable parcel of land, referred to as the Sullivan property off of Tanner Marsh Road, for preservation. Town officials are seeking to purchase 24 acres, including a conservation easement on 3.5 acres of land in the amount of $629,625.
According to Environmental Planner and Staff to Land Acquisition Kevin Magee, the property is being considered for purchase to preserve Guilford’s agricultural history and scenic views.
“The town is seeking to purchase the southern field, which is the field you pass just as you go over the highway, and then there is a backfield behind the barn and easement acreage that is currently overgrown that the town is taking on,” said Magee. “This really goes toward preserving scenic values and preserving cultural values. Many people think this view is sort of a gateway view toward the east side of town. You can see the old farm and barn and get a feel of what this area used to be like.”
Magee said the parcel will connect to a small property already owned by the town, enhancing their public holdings. Still, it is unlikely that walking trails will be implemented or that the land will be specifically dedicated to recreational use in the short term.
“The parcel connects to about a seven-acre piece the town owns behind properties on Trailwood Drive. The overall thought now is that we want to maintain it as an agricultural view. The field would maintain being cut on a regular basis. I think we may add this to properties that we license out for haying to local farmers,” Magee said. “A lot of the open spaces that we do have for agricultural purposes, we do allow hiking around the perimeter of the property so that people can walk the edge of the property. Hopefully, this helps maintain some heritage and helps gain access to an area that’s been kind of landlocked for years. That seven and half acre piece will now be attached to this portion and will allow access to that now without cutting through someone’s yard. The main thing is really protecting and preserving the cultural and scenic values of the area there, and perhaps it will help maintain the agricultural heritage of that property for years to come.”
According to Magee, the current owners will retain control of the parcel, which includes the iconic barn and silo, and will also put into conservatorship 3.5 acres directly behind that parcel that will restrict the use of that portion of the parcel, including a provision that will not allow structures in that specific easement area.
“The parcel, in total, is 31 and a half acres. The family itself is retaining seven and a half acres, which is the portion of the property that contains the barn and all of the buildings, and on top of that piece being retained by them, there is a three-and-a-half-acre conservation easement to protect the rear portion of that piece that the family is retaining,” said Magee. “It sounds like there is interest in them wanting maintain agriculture in some way there. The easement is an area that will be restricted as to what the owners can do within that three and a half acres. That conservation easement will be restricted just for agricultural purposes there, and prevents from adding buildings.”
According to Magee, the price being negotiated now is “pretty close” to its current market value. Magee said residents should attend the town meeting and voice their views on whether to allocate funds and purchase the parcel.
“Anybody interested can contact my office and, as a town, come out to the meeting and vote on the purchase,” said Magee. “
The meeting is set for Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 8:15 a.m. at the Guilford Town Hall, 31 Park Street. Attendees will be able to participate and cast votes both via Zoom and in-person.